“I think it’s great. Like I said, a lot of people are stepping up. They’re letting us come and play at the tournament even for free, or for reduced entry fees. They’re getting a lot of games – probably more than they would have normally gotten.”

And so far, the team is undefeated in Little League Play.

Halter who from South Elgin, and the team was initially impressed with his résumé. He made his way into the Deep River Devils’ lives by dating the mother of one of the players.

But he allegedly duped parents and kids.

Halter made big promises to the parents and players: the team would travel throughout northwest Indiana and Illinois, and they’d wear real uniforms.

“We kind of jumped on the band wagon,” Zack’s mother, Lisa Merrill said. “He made it sound exciting. We were going to play 60 games, instead of 30. It’s going to cost a little bit more money.”

It cost $675 per child to sign up for the team. Twelve kids signed up, so in all $8,100 was paid to the coach, who is nowhere to be found.

Halter is now charged with 10 counts of theft by Lake County prosecutors.

I’m a lifelong Chicagoan and could never see myself living anywhere else (except maybe Hawaii!).
I was born on the North Side in 1958 but have lived all but the first three months of my life on the South Side. That said, thank (or is that curse?)...